"I don't think, now, that I knew what beauty was," he added, concentrating his straight eyebrows upon Sophie, in a scrutinizing look.
"No one could be more beautiful than Neelie," said Sophie, with gentle emphasis.

"What has made you change your opinion ?" As she spoke, she closed the book on her lap, and leaned her cheek upon her hand.

Some of the sunshine fell upon her white dress, but left her face in shadow.

It struck Bressant, however, that the clear morning light which filled the room emanated from her eyes rather than from the sunshine.
"I don't know that I have changed my opinion," said he, looking down again at the fan; "I learn new things every day, that's all.

Do you ever think about yourself ?" "I suppose I do, sometimes; nobody can help being conscious of themselves once in a while." "About what you are, compared with other people, I mean." "There's nothing peculiar about me; still, I may be different, in some ways, from other people," answered Sophie, with simplicity.
"I can judge better about that than you; there was some use in deafness, and being alone, and thinking only of fame, and such things." "What use ?" asked Sophie, leaning forward, with interest, for he had never spoken about his former life before.
"The same way that a man who never drinks has a more delicate sense of taste than a drunkard," returned Bressant, apparently pleased with his simile.